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2017 NFL Mock Draft: Breaking Down Post-Week 14 Predictions
December 12, 2016
While the Baltimore Ravens and New England Patriots still have to play Monday night, Week 14 is officially in the books for most NFL teams. There are only three weeks remaining in the regular season, and the number of teams with realistic Super Bowl dreams continues to dwindle.
That means plenty of fanbases have turned their collective attention toward the offseason, where the promise of collegiate playmakers could lead to a brighter future.
With that in mind, here is a look at some predictions for every first-round pick in 2017. The order of picks was borrowed from Dane Brugler's mock draft on CBSSports.com, which he wrote after Week 13.
| 2017 Mock Draft | ||
| Pick | Team | Player |
| 1 | Cleveland Browns | Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M |
| 2 | San Francisco 49ers | Mitch Trubisky, QB, North Carolina |
| 3 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Tim Williams, OLB, Alabama |
| 4 | Chicago Bears | DeShone Kizer, QB, Notre Dame |
| 5 | New York Jets | Jonathan Allen, DL, Alabama |
| 6 | Tennessee Titans (from Los Angeles Rams) | Reuben Foster, LB, Alabama |
| 7 | Carolina Panthers | Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU |
| 8 | Cincinnati Bengals | Mike Williams, WR, Clemson |
| 9 | Cleveland Browns (from Philadelphia Eagles) | Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson |
| 10 | New Orleans Saints | Jabrill Peppers, LB, Michigan |
| 11 | San Diego Chargers | Malik Hooker, S, Ohio State |
| 12 | Arizona Cardinals | John Ross, WR, Washington |
| 13 | Tennessee Titans | Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama |
| 14 | Indianapolis Colts | Jamal Adams, S, LSU |
| 15 | Buffalo Bills | Teez Tabor, CB, Florida |
| 16 | Green Bay Packers | Malik McDowell, DL, Michigan State |
| 17 | Philadelphia Eagles (from Minnesota Vikings) | JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, USC |
| 18 | Washington | D'Onta Foreman, RB, Texas |
| 19 | Miami Dolphins | Sidney Jones, CB, Washington |
| 20 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Taco Charlton, DE, Michigan |
| 21 | Houston Texans | Cam Robinson, OT, Alabama |
| 22 | Baltimore Ravens | Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan |
| 23 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Charles Harris, DE, Missouri |
| 24 | Atlanta Falcons | Gareon Conley, CB, Ohio State |
| 25 | Detroit Lions | Zach Cunningham, LB, Vanderbilt |
| 26 | New York Giants | Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State |
| 27 | Denver Broncos | Takkarist McKinley, DE/OLB, UCLA |
| 28 | Seattle Seahawks | Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee |
| 29 | Kansas City Chiefs | Desmond King, CB, Iowa |
| 30 | New England Patriots | Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford |
| 31 | Oakland Raiders | O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama |
| 32 | Dallas Cowboys | Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ohio State |
Breaking Down Top Five Picks
No. 1 Cleveland Browns: Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M
The Cleveland Browns have seemingly been searching for stability at quarterback for generations, but none of the available signal-callers are sure enough prospects to use the No. 1 pick on in this draft. The Browns can always grab one (like Deshaun Watson) with a later pick.
That means they will go with the best player available, and that is Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett.
He will look to follow in the footsteps of Joey Bosa, who was the first pass-rusher taken in the 2015 draft and already has 6.5 sacks in his first nine career games. Garrett apparently had set his sights on surpassing the Ohio State product for some time, per Sam Khan Jr. of ESPN.com.
"For the longest time, I was trying to be a better player than him," he said. "And seeing how he's playing in the NFL, maybe I have to do it again and try to catch up. If he becomes the best, then I have to be better."
Garrett dealt with injury concerns during the 2016 season but managed 8.5 sacks after tallying 11.5 in 2015 and 11 in 2014, per Sports-Reference.com. The Browns were dead last in the league entering Week 14 with 17 sacks and could use a playmaker like that in their defensive front.
No. 2 San Francisco 49ers: Mitch Trubisky, QB, North Carolina
Like the Browns, the San Francisco 49ers need long-term stability at quarterback and one who can turn head coach Chip Kelly's short tenure around as soon as next season.
North Carolina's Mitch Trubisky gives them a quarterback who doesn't turn the ball over and can run when things break down. He has 270 rushing yards and five touchdowns on the ground this year and 28 touchdown passes to only four interceptions.
He won't lose games for San Francisco with that type of ball security and is capable of throwing downfield considering he has 3,468 passing yards on the campaign.
ESPN's Trevor Matich broke down Trubisky's game, per Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com:
He has all the physical tools. He's very mobile and has a live arm. Good accuracy. So, he can throw the ball well. He also has good leadership. Trubisky has everything you want in a quarterback.
Those traits would work well in San Francisco.
No. 3 Jacksonville Jaguars: Tim Williams, OLB, Alabama
While they are still struggling to rack up wins on the field, the Jacksonville Jaguars are putting together a formidable young defense. They drafted Myles Jack, Jalen Ramsey and Dante Fowler Jr. in the last couple of years and will add to that group with Alabama's Tim Williams.
The senior leader is one of the elite pass-rushing linebackers available in the draft. According to Sports-Reference.com, he tallied 15.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks this year after posting 11.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks in 2015.
He also plays some of his best football in the biggest moments, as Alex Scarborough of ESPN.com noted:
The Jaguars will continue adding to their young defense with the Alabama playmaker.
No. 4 Chicago Bears: DeShone Kizer, QB, Notre Dame
Jay Cutler is not a franchise quarterback of the future, and the Chicago Bears will likely not be a serious contender until they land one.
While Notre Dame struggled this season, DeShone Kizer increased his passing yardage (2,925 from 2,884) and passing touchdowns (26 from 21) while decreasing his interceptions (nine from 10) this year compared to last. He is also a capable runner with 472 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground.
Matich pointed to an NFL skill set with Kizer, per Dickerson:
From what I've seen on tape, Kizer seems to be a good leader and the team tends to rally around him. I've seen him make throws into certain windows that lead me to believe the physical tools are worth the price of admission. A strong arm is mildly interesting. Accuracy is non-negotiable. What you have to do is read the defense, anticipate and get the ball to a tight window on-time. In his college system, I've watched Kizer do that time after time.
The Bears need a quarterback to rally around, and Kizer fits the bill.
No. 5 New York Jets: Jonathan Allen, DL, Alabama
The New York Jets have other areas of more pressing need than defensive line, but Alabama's Jonathan Allen is a best-player-available selection. Allen has enough talent to be the No. 2 pick behind Garrett, and the Jets will grab him if he falls this far.
He notched a combined 20.5 sacks the last two seasons and is one of the anchors of the best defense in the nation that led the country in yards, rushing yards and points allowed per game in 2016.
Bleacher Report's Matt Miller listed Allen as the third-best player on his big board and said he was the most NFL-ready, best run-stopper, best pass-rusher, best 3-technique player and best 3-4 defensive end available among all defensive lineman.
The Jets will find room for someone like that.